The Kane County Sheriff's Office Citizens Police Academy is looking for participants for its spring session.

Held in the spring and again in the fall for the last 15 years, the nine-week training gives participants a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the Kane County Sheriff's Office.

Included in the course are demonstrations by the SWAT team, the police dog unit and the bomb unit, as well as extended tours of the Kane County Jail, the coroner's office and the 911 call center.

Aurora 's Armando Leon, who participated in the Citizens Police Academy a couple of years ago, said the program is worth attending.

"They show the ins and outs of each department," he said.

Leon currently is studying law enforcement at Waubonsee Community College and works as a security guard at Central DuPage Hospital.

Mark Oliver, who was born and raised in Aurora and now lives in Oswego, enjoyed the hands-on nature of the class.

"I wanted to experience it myself," he said. "Every individual I came into contact with (in the program) wanted to keep the city safe for themselves and for the community."

Oliver found especially enlightening participating in the simulated traffic stops.

"I felt my level of stress went up even though I was in a controlled environment. My heart began to race. I had to think about those officers who go out there day after day and risk their lives to keep our community safe," he said.

Kane County Sgt. Dave Wolf, who runs the SWAT demonstrations during the citizen's academy training, said the program gives participants a little different look at police work "than they are used to seeing."

During the demonstrations, Wolf said he will bring the SWAT truck and participants can wear a bulletproof vest and helmet and pick up a shield.

The bomb squad will bring along their equipment including a robot — another popular demonstration for participants in the Citizens Police Academy, officials said.

Director of Court Security Eddie Jackson with the Kane County Sheriff's Office said, "The Citizens Police Academy gives attendees a chance to change some of the misconceptions they may have about the police."

The intent of the program is to shed light on some of the challenges law enforcement officers face on a daily basis. Wolf said participants vary from those who are interested in law enforcement to those who are interested in getting involved in Neighborhood Watch to retirees who want to learn something different about the community.

The course gives participants a chance to see that "law enforcement officers are just normal people," he said. "It is an opportunity to see first-hand what police officers actually do."

"I have seen people who have reservations about the police change their outlook once they participate in the program," Wolf added. "We are trying to build a positive relationship in the community."

The spring class begins March 27 and runs weekly through May 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Kane County Sheriff's Office in St. Charles.

The class is limited to 25 students age 18 or older. For information, go to the Kane County Sheriff's Office web site at www.kanesheriff.com.